Apparatus for producing fibers from thermoplastic material



Jan. 23, 1962 M. LEvEcQUE ETAL 3,017,663

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIBERS FROM THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Feb. 21, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MARCEL LavacQuL J f l. MAumci CHARPeNTmR ATTORNEY Jan' 23, 1962 LEVECQUE ET AL 3,017,663

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIBERS FROM THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Feb. 2l. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

ATTORNEY United States Patent Office l'lb Patented `lan.. 23, ll62 3,017,663 APPARATUS FR PRDUQHNG FEBERS FRM THERMPLASHC MATERML Marcel Levecque, Saint-Gratien, and Maurice Charpentier, Rantigny, France, assignors to Societe Anonyme des Manufactures des Glaces et Produits Chimiques de Saint-Gobain, Chauny &` Cirey, Paris, France, a corporation of France Filed Feb. 21, 1956, Ser. No. 567,028 Claims priority, application France .lune 6, 1955 S Claims. (Cl. iti- 2.5)

The present invention relates to apparatus for making fibers from mineral or organic materials in the viscous state and in particular to glass fibers in which a supply or stream of viscous material is delivered to the interior of a centrifugal body having a peripheral Wall provided with a plurality of orifices through which the material is projected in filament or fiber form when the body is rotated at sufiicient speed. To achieve this procedure it is desirable, especially when fibers of uniform diameter are involved, that the feed condition in the orifices be as regular as possible and that the instantaneous discharge from each orifice be as constant as possible. With these conditions in mind, the present invention contemplates the presence of a distributor element on the inside of the rotating centrifugal body which receives the supply stream of viscous material and projects it under the action of the centrifugal force and divides it evenly over the entire inner surface of the peripheral Wall of the centrifugal body and the orifices therein so as to produce a layer or film of sensibly even thickness, as a result of which all orifices are supplied in practically identical manner.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a substantially bottomless centrifugal body or the provision of an opening at the base thereof of such large area as to preclude the presence of any substantial bottom wall for the body, thereby providing for the ready escape of gases existing inside the centrifugal body at minimum speed.

These features produce a number of beneficial results which serve to improve the quality and quantity of the fiber product. Thus there is assured a good propagation in the centrifugal body of thin filaments or droplets projected by the -distributor element and consequently the creation of a homogeneous film or layer of viscous material on the surface of the peripheral wall carrying the projection orifices. In effect, the gases escaping from the centrifugal body through the large opening provided in the lower part of this body pass through this opening, because of its large area, at minimum speed. A high speed would tend to disturb the propagation of the filaments or droplets of material projected by the distributor and even cause a portion of the said material o be transported to the outside of the rotating body.

With the evacuation of the gases from the centrifugal body readily accomplished, it is possible to utilize a burner positioned within the centrifugal body and directing its hot gases or flame toward the distributor element to assure proper temperature and working conditions. The gases are evacuated without being able to act unfavorably on the propogation of the intermediary filaments of viscous material and corrosion hazards are considerably reduced. Moreover, these gases passing through the large opening escape below the centrifugal body and suppress the eddy effect produced during the rotation of the centrifugal body at fiber producing speed which can become troublesome for the proper distribution of the fibers on a receiver element for the fibers placed below the centrifugal body. The pressure inside the rotating body can also be regulated at will.

Additionally, the present invention makes it possible to obtain a better homogeneity and temperature of the layer or film of material on the inside of the peripheral wall of the centrifugal body. The absence of a bottom wall for the centrifugal body precludes a cooling of the lower part of the peripheral wall of the body which would result from the extraction of heat by conductivity and natural cooling were a bottom present in the body.

ln order to facilitate maximum circulation of the gases the invention contemplates to provide one or more openings in the upper part of the centrifugal body and even to reduce the centrifugal body to its peripheral wall carrying the projection orifices. In this last case the peripheral wall can be maintained by clamps, rods or similar elements turning about the axis of rotation.

According to the invention the distributor element may be fixed by means of elements, such as clamps or rods, to the upper part of the centrifugal body or to its upwardly projecting tube; or it may be attached to the peripheral wall of the body.

According to another characteristic of the invention the peripheral wall of the centrifugal body can be mounted on the body in removable fashion, so that it can be changed without having to change the entire centrifugal body itself.

The invention can be applied to rotating centrifugal bodies over the peripheral wall of which a fluid at high temperature, such as flames, is projected affecting the entire height of the wall and acting on the viscous material at the time of its exit from the orifices in the peripheral wall.

It alsois applicable to centrifugal bodies where the filaments of viscous material escaping through the orifices of the peripheral wall are subjected, just after their discharge, to the action of high temperature gases which issue at high speed from expansion orifices of an annular combustion chamber to impose on the filaments an abrupt change of direction, entrainment and an energetic drawing action transforming them into very fine fibers. In this case, the passage and presence of the gases escaping through the bottomless centrifugal body obviates the collection of fibers under the centrifugal body and their tendency to regroup and stick to one another while still in the plastic state. The invention thus makes it possible to dispense with any means designed to impede such collection or regrouping.

The invention can be employed in combination with an annular combustion chamber presenting a continuous slot for the escape of the gases or holes or closely grouped slots which enable an identical action to be obtained on all filaments discharging through the orices of the peripheral wall.

in the present invention the obtained fibers are all identical and homogeneous and the manufacture is increased.

Two examples of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein- FIG. 1 is a vertical section through the centrifugal body and the distributor therein which receives the supply stream.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing an annular combustion chamber around the centrifugal body with its expansion opening in position to direct hot gases, resulting from combustion, across the peripheral wall of the body and its orifices7 heating the same and entraining and drawing out the projected material into fine fibers.

FlG. 3 is a vertical section through a modified embodiment of a centrifugal body provided with openings in the upper part thereof.

FlG. 4 is a plan View of FIG. 3.

FiG. 5 is a vertical section through another embodiment of the centrifugal body provided with a detachable and readily interchangeable peripheral wall.

In the form represented by FIG. 1 the centrifugal rotating body l includes a peripheral wall 2 equipped with a plurality of rows of orifices 3 for the projection of the viscous material. This rotating body is mounted on a tube 4 the inside of which is provided with means to convey viscous material and a burner which are not shown.

Between the rotating body 1 and its tube 4 is attached a collar or ring 5, supporting by clamps or brackets 6, a distributor 7 rotating with the body 1. In the example shown, the distributor` or element 7 takes the form of a hollow body or receptacle into which the supply stream of viscous material Hows. The distributor is provided with a peripheral wall having a plurality of orifices 8 therein. The viscous material is projected through these orifices toward and over the entire height of the wall 2 of the centrifugal body in a uniform manner and creates a thin layer or film of practically constant thickness which supplies all projection orifices 3 in practically identical fashion.

The centrifugal body 1 is substantially bottomless, i.e., it is provided with an opening 9 of large area for the purposes heretofore explained.

The arrangement represented in FIG. 2 is similar to that of FIG. l. It is associated with an annular combustion chamber 10 presenting a continuous expansion slot through which the combustion gases escape in a ring-like blast at high speed and high temperature which act in uniform fashion on all filaments of viscous material as they leave the projection orifices 3 where they are entrained and drawn out into fine fibers by the hot gases escaping from the combustion chamber. The distributor element 7 may have a different shape from that represented and be of conical shape, with the conical end upward or stacked circular plates of decreasing diameter upwardly where these elements are positioned to one side of the axis of the centrifugal body and rotate therewith as shown in U.S. application Serial No. 567,024, filed February 21, 1956, in the names of Marcel Levecque and Paul Piot, now Patent No. 2,980,954.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 is illustrated a modified centrifugal body 1 having a plurality of openings 15 on the upper part thereof to facilitate the escape of gases from the inside of the centrifugal body and to eliminate eddys in the vicinity of the fibers issuing from the peripheral wall of the centrifugal body. The peripheral wall 3 may be considered as being mounted from the spaced supports 16 intermediate the openings 15.

FIG. 5 shows a centrifugal body 21 provided with fastening bolts 23 for engaging an annular clamp 24 in order to detachably mount a peripheral wall 22 therebetween. With such an arrangement peripheral walls can be interchanged easily.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for producing fibers from viscous material, the combination of a centrifugal body having a peripheral wall provided with a plurality of superposed rows of orifices therein, a distributor within said body and rotating therewith with the discharge areas of said distributor being spaced a substantial distance from said peripheral wall and being disposed substantially at an intermediate level of said superposed rows of orifices therein, to receive a supply of viscous material from above and discharge the same laterally and uniformly upon the inside surface of the peripheral wall and simultaneously upon all of the superposed rows of orifices therein, said centrifugal body being provided with an opening at its base of such large area as to render said centrifugal body substantially bottomless, means for delivering hot gases to the interior of the centrifugal body for the uniform heating of the same and the material therein, said opening at the base of the centrifugal body permitting the hot gases to escape at slow speed through said opening to a zone below said centrifugal body.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the centrifugal body is provided with at least one opening in the upper portion thereof for partial `discharge of hot gases within said body.

3. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein the peripheral wall may be affixed to spaced supports which constitute the centrifugal body.

4. In apparatus for producing fibers from viscous material, the combination of a centrifugal body having a peripheral wall provided with a plurality of superposed rows of orfices therein, a rotary distributor within said body having the discharge areas thereof spaced a substantial distance from said peripheral wall and being disposed substantially at an intermediate level of said superposed rows of orifices therein, to receive a supply of viscous material from above and discharge the same laterally and uniformly upon the inside surface of the peripheral wall and simultaneously upon all of the superposed rows of orifices therein, said centrifugal body being provided with an opening at its base of such large area as to render said centrifugal body substantially bottomless, said opening at the base of the centrifugal body permitting the gases within the centrifugal body to escape at slow speed through said opening to a zone below said centrifugal body.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein the peripheral wall of the centrifugal body is detachable from the body.

6. The upparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein the distributor is suspended by means attached to the upper portion of the centrifugal body.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein the axes of the distributor and centrifugal body are coincident.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including an annular combustion chamber surrounding said centrifugal body provided with means for discharging a ring-like blast of gases at high temperature and high velocity across the exterior surface of said peripheral wall and the orifices therein for the heating, entrainment and drawing out of fibers projected from said orifices when said body is rotated at sufficient speed and conveying the same in a downward direction, said opening at the base of the centrifugal body serving to impede any tendency of the ring-like blast of hot gases discharged by the combustion chamber and the fibers entrained therein and drawn thereby from moving inwardly and collecting below said centrifugal body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,431,205 Slayter Nov. 18, 1947 2,609,566 Slayter et al Sept. 9, 1952 2,624,912 Heymes et al. Ian. 13, 1953 2,816,826 Brennan Dec. 17, 1957 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIBERS FROM VISCOUS MATERIAL, THE COMBINATION OF A CENTRIFUGAL BODY HAVING A PERIPHERAL WALL PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF SUPERPOSED ROWS OF ORIFICES THEREIN, A DISTRIBUTOR WITHIN AID BODY AND ROTATING THEREWITH WITH THE DISCHARGE AREAS OF SAID DISTRIBUTOR BEING SPACED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM SAID PERIPHERAL WALL AND BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY AT AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL OF SAID SUPERPOSED ROWS OF ORIFICES THEREIN, TO RECEIVE A SUPPLY OF VISCOUS MATERIAL FROM ABOVE AND DISCHARGE THE SAME LATERALLY AND UNIFORMLY UPON THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL AND SIMULTANEOUSLY UPON ALL OF THE SUPERPOSED ROWS OF ORIFICES THEREIN, SAID CENTRIFUGAL BODY BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING AT ITS BASE OF SUCH LARGE AREA AS TO RENDER SAID CENTRIFUGAL BODY SUBSTANTIALLY BOTTOMLESS, MEANS FOR DELIVERING HOT GASES TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CENTRIFUGAL BODY FOR THE UNIFORM 